My name is Maria and I’m proud to be a part of the Thame Chiropractic Clinic. We recently had the incredible honour of joining the chiro mission, an initiative close to our hearts.

Chiro mission is a global team of chiropractors, united by one purpose, to provide chiropractic care to communities in need. This year we served in the Dominican Republic where the poverty is striking and deeply humbling.

Having witnessed the challenges in these regions before we were moved to return. Many people leave in shelters and work tirelessly seven days a week for meagre wages, meanwhile their health suffers, many endure pain but simply cannot afford the care they need. The situation is even more desperate for immigrants from Haiti where extreme poverty is most visible.

The great thing about chiropractic care is that it works for everyone because its natural and it focuses on the route course of the problem, not just the symptoms, and we met so many people who never had their spines checked before, despite years of hard physical work that left them in a lot of pain. There were children who needed care, which is especially important as their bodies are still growing and developing, so our goal was simple, help as many people as we could.

Honestly, while it was tough seeing so much pain, especially from children, it was incredibly rewarding to see their reactions after an adjustment. First you see the relief on their faces, then this wonderful joy and surprise, it was like a weight had been lifted and seeing that transformation made everything worth it.

We had to set up all the equipment so we could move quickly from one adjustment to the next whilst still providing personal care. Another thing we had to manage was creating a calm, relaxed environment in a space filled with people waiting for their turn, and despite the busyness, the smiles and gratitude from those who we helped really encouraged others to step forward and it was beautiful to see that sense of trust that spread through the room.

There are so many moments that stand out but one was a little baby who was crying uncontrollably, and you can tell something was really bothering her, but she couldn’t express what it was. The second she got adjusted the crying stopped and it was incredible. She just instantly calmed down.

Another moment was with an elderly man who came to us in obvious pain, and he sat down a little unsure and skeptical, but after his adjustment he started laughing because he was so happy and he brought more people over for care and it was touching to see how people were generous and trusting the people were, even with something totally new to them.

For those familiar with chiropractic care its clear that one adjustment is just the beginning of the healing journey, and it is our hope that more chiropractors will continue to work, building on the foundation we laid, so the care doesn’t end when we leave. We want people to discover the natural ways to address the root causes of their health issues, and to understand how interconnected their health is with every part of their lives. In doing so we hope to help them lead healthier and happier lives.